Don't Spray 'em. Outsmart 'em.

Do you agree citizens have the right to know when herbicides are used in our community? Do you agree that our government officials need to protect our families from preventable and harmful toxic exposures by reducing herbicides used by government agencies and other users?

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Protecting Children from Pests and Pesticides at School.Bring
the Benefits of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to Your School!

Does your child go to school in Newton? Become an IPM Ambassador:

Learn about the principles of pollution prevention and sustainable
practices that benefit everyone.

Teach the use of brain power and team work
instead of toxic chemicals to prevent and control pests such as
head lice, mice and cockroaches.

Teach others to spot conditions that invite
pests and allow them to thrive such as open dumpsters, leaky faucets, clutter
and wet trash.

Encourage collaboration and responsibility among all building
users in adopting the good hygiene, sanitation and maintenance
practices that keep the school clean and in good repair.

View Massachusetts Children and Families Protection Act - 333 CMR 14.00 [PDF]The purpose of 333 CMR 14.00 is
to promote the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Techniques and to establish those standards, requirements and procedures
necessary to minimize the risk of unreasonable adverse effects on human
health and the environment regarding the use of pesticides within a
school, daycare center or school age child care program facility. The Children and Families Protection Act went into effect on November 1, 2000.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Thank you for returning my call today reporting that NSTAR contractors were spraying in West Barnstable when the wind velocity was over the limit stated on the herbicide labels for Krenite and Escort (3-10 mph). See attached NOAA weather report. While I am relieved you contacted them and “suggested they do something else for the day”, I continue to have concerns over exposures to people or animals that happen to be in the area with no expectation that they will come upon a band of contractors spraying herbicides. They’ve been afforded no warning and there are no signs announcing the spraying before or after this operation to alert anyone to avoid the area.

There was no notice recent enough to be effective in forewarning residents of the area of West Barnstable to avoid this particular right of way which happens to betown-owned land and kettle ponds with an ancient way where many hike or walk their dogs. Regardless of whether a notification had gone out to towns and abutters back in August/September, it should have beenre-issued to meet M.G.L. c. 132 B Section 6B (i.e. 21 days before spray and 48 hr newspaper notice). I reminded you of this in our phone conversation of Nov. 18 and you reported that re-notification would not be done. However, the statute states the obligation to notify towns and abutters specifically 21 days prior to the actual application of herbicides as well as 48 hours in the newspaper but the spraying did not commence until November 18.Please clarify by e-mail why there was no re-notification per the statute.

I also recall that during our conversation ofNov. 18, I inquired about the issue of supervision on the rights-of-way during spraying and you stated it was not possible for you or anyone else to be present to oversee the spraying. Over the last weeks, NSTAR contractors have sprayed on several days when wind conditions did not meet the label requirements. It is only happenstance that today’s violation was reported to me along with a videotape as it occurred. It’s not acceptable that citizens need to be ever vigilant to ensure the regulations are enforced--that’s the role of government. The NSTAR Yearly Operational Plan was approved by the MA Department of Agricultural Resources-the agency you work for which is supported with citizen tax dollars- and as Pesticide Inspector, Inspectional Services & Pest Mgt., and Enforcement for VMPs and YOPs, proper implementation, enforcement, or revocation of the YOP is your responsibility. The label violations relating to wind velocity –but possibly others-would likely not have occurred had an inspector been on site. Please make recommendations or adjustments to ensure this doesn’t continue.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Monsanto wants you to believe that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®, is only “minimally toxic” to humans, whatever that means. But the most recent study on the most widely used herbicide in the world says, once again, otherwise. According to the report: Glyphosate residues found in the main foods of the Western diet – sugar, wheat, and genetically modified corn and soy – inhibit critical enzymes in mammals. Its negative impact on the body is “insidious and manifests slowly over time, as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body.”

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

This Yearly Operational Plan (YOP) describes the vegetation management operations for the Railroad’s rights-of-way scheduled for vegetation maintenance during this calendar year in compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Rights-of-Way Management Regulations 333 CMR 11.00.This YOP is a companion document to the Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) which has been approved by the Department of Agricultural Resources.

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